SWNOVELXO Chapter 142: Fish Transformation Sickness; Lotus Seed Porridge
Chapter 142: Fish Transformation Sickness; Lotus Seed Porridge
The place where Little Yu was kept wasn’t by the lakeside but halfway up the mountain.
This area housed ordinary cultivators of Jade Ring Lake. Compared to Ji Xueruo’s secluded lakeside chambers, the buildings here were much denser. Fortunately, it was deep into the night, and there were no pedestrians on the road, with only sparse lights flickering in the distance.
Even among Jade Ring Lake’s cultivators, individuals were ranked according to their talent and cultivation levels. The immortals of Jade Ring Lake collectively referred to themselves as the Jade Clan. To motivate all clan members to strive for excellence, the ancestors of the Jade Clan disregarded distinctions between main and branch families. As long as one bore the surname “Yu” (Jade), they could fight for their rightful place within Jade Ring Lake based on their strength. It was rumored that one of the three grand masters, Venerable Shenxi, had risen from the outer periphery of Jade Ring Lake to the inner circle, eventually becoming a grand master through sheer perseverance and miraculous fortune.
Ji Xueruo concealed her cultivation using specialized spellcraft. Unless there was a vast disparity in cultivation levels, it would be difficult to detect her presence. Thus, she moved unhindered along the way.
She couldn’t help but muse inwardly. Perhaps due to Jade Ring Lake’s seclusion and the protection of its guardian array, there were hardly any malicious individuals around, which explained why the security measures here were so lax.
She pushed open the door, silencing the creak with a sound-suppression technique, and quietly slipped inside.
To her surprise, just beyond the door was an enormous wooden basin filled with water, and the thinly clad Little Yu lay quietly submerged within it.
Her bright eyes blinked like two gemstones in the dim candlelight. Her lower body, partially submerged in water, had already healed significantly compared to before.
This agile young fisherwoman had long, slender yet powerful legs. Now, these legs were covered with fine black liquid, and remnants of fish scales still lingered on her calves, reflecting faint glimmers of light from the water.
After carefully observing this unexpected late-night visitor, Little Yu quickly lowered her guard. She remembered Ji Xueruo’s face—not only because Ji Xueruo had impersonated her for a while, but also because the beauty of this maiden was unforgettable once seen.
“Sister Ji, you’ve come to see me!”
Little Yu was pleasantly surprised. She tightened her clothes and attempted to rise from the water, but her legs were still too weak to support her movement, causing only a splash.
“Mm…” Ji Xueruo closed the door behind her and took a few steps closer to the wooden basin.
Seeing Little Yu recovering well alleviated much of her concern.
“It’s so late. Haven’t you slept yet?”
Little Yu was momentarily startled, then replied, “I slept all day when I was sick earlier. How could I possibly sleep now?”
“It seems Jade Ring Lake has helped you recover quite well.” Ji Xueruo’s voice remained as cold and detached as ever, even when expressing concern.
“Yes, I’m truly grateful to the immortal masters of Jade Ring Lake. I thought I’d be stuck in that monstrous form forever.”
Little Yu clenched her small hands, looking shaken:
“But most of all, I’m grateful to Grandpa and Sister Ji.”
“There’s no need to thank me. Your grandfather worked hard fishing for you. Once you’re better, make sure to take good care of him.”
“I will, I promise!” Little Yu vowed earnestly, then added, “When I turned into a monster, I lost my sanity. I was afraid others would discover it, so I asked Sister Ji to pretend to be me in such a crude guise. Thinking about it now, it must have been tough on Sister Ji.”
“Not at all. Little Yu, you’re also very beautiful.” Ji Xueruo felt awkward offering comfort and quickly added, “Besides, your grandfather and I were merely conducting a transaction. Acting for a few days in exchange for your family’s heirloom treasure was quite profitable for me.”
As she spoke, she retrieved the necklace Old Yu had given her. Hanging from the necklace was a nearly withered, off-white lotus seed.
Little Yu glanced at the necklace and said sorrowfully:
“That thing was useless to us but was regarded as a precious treasure by our ancestors, passed down through generations. Now that I think about it, it’s actually quite laughable.”
“Why do you say that?” Ji Xueruo asked curiously.
Little Yu lowered her head and placed her hand on her now-empty collarbone. Her grandfather had handed her the necklace when she was three years old, and she had worn it every day since. Now that it was gone, she didn’t feel a sense of loss but rather a feeling of liberation.
“The lotus seed on the necklace is the fruit produced after ten thousand lotuses in Jade Ring Lake wither. Every time they bear fruit, tens of thousands of seeds are produced. These seeds are so abundant that even immortals can’t use them all, so they casually tossed one as a reward to the fishermen, leaving our ancestors overjoyed. Then, generation after generation, we’ve fished diligently. Isn’t that foolish and laughable?”
Her voice carried a tinge of melancholy but also excitement:
“The immortal master who treated me told me that I have spirit veins. Once I’m cured, I’ll be granted the surname ‘Yu’ and allowed to stay in Jade Ring Lake as an immortal. I was so happy to hear that because I’ll never have to be a fisherwoman again. My parents died of illness, yet I had to inherit the fate of fishing for the Yu family. This necklace, awarded by immortals as a token of gratitude for the Yu family’s fishing efforts, felt like shackles binding the Yu family to the lake forever. Thankfully, Jade Ring Lake has accepted me! From now on, there won’t be a Little Yu—only Yu Xiaoyu!”
Ji Xueruo’s eyes widened slightly. The sudden burst of resolve from this dark-skinned fisherwoman both surprised and resonated with her.
So even someone as powerless as this young girl wanted to change her destiny.
“Congratulations, Little Yu. But remember, even if you can cultivate, don’t grow arrogant. You’ve only just reached the entrance of the path.”
“Mm-hmm! I’ll definitely work hard! I want to become an immortal as strong and beautiful as Sister Ji! And then I’ll bring Grandpa here too!”
“It’s good that you have such aspirations.” Ji Xueruo shifted the topic, asking, “Did the people of Jade Ring Lake tell you what this illness is called?”
“They said it’s called Fish Transformation Sickness. Besides me, two other maids in Jade Ring Lake have had it before, and they were both cured.”
“Transforming into a fish? Do they know what causes it?”
Little Yu shook her head. “They don’t know.”
“If they don’t understand the cause, how did they cure you?”
“The lotus seeds of these jade lotuses are potent antidotes. I eat one every day, and the sickness naturally improves. However, full recovery will still take some time.”
Lotus seeds… Ji Xueruo looked at the lotus seed necklace in her hand. What the Yu family had treasured as a priceless heirloom and refused to consume was now readily available to Little Yu. No wonder she felt such a stark contrast.
“Do you remember how you contracted this strange illness?”
Before, when Little Yu was sick, she suffered terribly and often fell unconscious, making communication impossible.
Little Yu pondered for a moment and replied, “I really don’t know. At the time, I only knew I was ill, lying in bed feeling terrible, constantly wanting to drink water, but no matter how much I drank, it wasn’t enough. Eventually, I ended up submerged in the fish cellar, resulting in that monstrous form.”
“This illness is truly unheard of…”
“Sister Ji, don’t worry. The immortal masters told me they’re taking this illness seriously. Soon, they’ll surely figure it out.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Ji Xueruo sighed. If Little Yu recovered as well, then the thorn in her mind that couldn’t be removed would finally heal. Surrounded by the fairyland-like Jade Ring Lake, perhaps she had been overly suspicious…
“Sister Ji, have you completed the task you came to Jade Ring Lake for?”
“Almost. Just a few more days.” Ji Xueruo nodded.
“Great! Jade Ring Lake is truly wonderful!” Little Yu cheered.
“Mm.” Ji Xueruo responded softly, then added, “Rest well. I’ll visit again in a couple of days. Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll give you a gift to help you advance on the immortal path.”
“Thank you, Sister Ji! You’re so kind!”
Ji Xueruo simply nodded and, with a final glance at Little Yu, disappeared into the night.
Little Yu remained seated in the wooden basin. Her hand caressed the scales on her calf, and the black liquid seemed to flow, gradually spreading toward her feet.
Behind her, Yu Zhen silently emerged, like a ghost materializing in the darkness.
“Little Yu, you’ve done well. Here’s your reward.”
Yu Zhen slowly opened his palm, revealing three fresh white lotus seeds exuding a refreshing fragrance.
Startled, Little Yu shuddered. She had guessed Yu Zhen would come but hadn’t expected him to appear so suddenly.
“Master Zhen.” Little Yu respectfully bowed.
Yu Zhen grunted and walked to the edge of the basin, gazing at Little Yu’s agile legs covered in black veins and scales. His eyes grew increasingly entranced:
“You’re growing more beautiful…”
“Thank you, Master Zhen. It’s all thanks to Jade Ring Lake. But deceiving her like this… will it really work?”
“Deceive? Which part of what you said was a lie?!” Yu Zhen’s voice suddenly turned icy, glaring at Little Yu. “Or do you secretly believe this is an illness?”
“Little Yu wouldn’t dare!”
Instantly pale with fear, Little Yu tried to struggle and kneel, but Yu Zhen firmly pressed down on her shoulders, immobilizing her.
“You’re still in the critical stage of transformation. Don’t move recklessly!”
Yu Zhen’s tone was chilling, sending shivers down one’s spine. He sighed deeply, then spoke gently:
“Little Yu, don’t forget. When you were three years old, your grandfather knelt on the boat deck begging me to accept you into the immortal sect. But you lacked spirit veins, so I rejected him. Now, you’ve suddenly developed spirit veins. You must understand—this isn’t an illness. It’s a blessing bestowed upon you by the Water God.”
Trembling violently, Little Yu nodded repeatedly like a pestle pounding rice.
“This is merely the process of transforming from mortal to immortal. Don’t fear it. Accept it, embrace its beauty… Isn’t it what transformed you into this?”
Yu Zhen, an elegant and handsome middle-aged man, extended a finger and caressed Little Yu’s face with rapturous fascination, half of his face cloaked in shadow:
“Before, you endured wind and sun exposure. How could your skin have been so delicate? Didn’t you always feel inferior about being so dark? Don’t worry. Once you become an immortal, you’ll be as fair and flawless as them, adored by thousands…”
Little Yu’s trembling gradually subsided, her straight legs pressing tightly together.
“And don’t you want your grandfather to receive the Water God’s blessing too? He’s very old. If he doesn’t achieve immortality soon, he’ll be buried in the ground…”
Yu Zhen lifted Little Yu’s chin, raising her head. Slowly lifting her gaze, her eyes now burned with unwavering determination.
Yu Zhen, satisfied with her expression, smiled contentedly.
He gently parted her lips, and Little Yu eagerly extended her tongue to reach for the three lotus seeds, as if consumed by addiction.
…
The night sky stretched like a vast, black sea—silent, expansive, and mysterious.
Ji Xueruo walked along the wooden path, her steps calm.
She didn’t understand why she was still worried when Little Yu was fine.
If Jade Ring Lake truly intended harm, she had no means to resist on their territory.
She sighed softly. Initially, she had been somewhat proud, believing she could uncover Jade Ring Lake’s secrets. Now, she realized that a thousand years of accumulated depth couldn’t be unraveled so easily.
For now, she only hoped the Lotus Root Heart would ripen soon, allowing her to return to the Serpent Clan with it.
She looked up at the sky. Tonight, the stars and moon were dim.
The distant mountains loomed vaguely, resembling clouds or floating pavilions in the air. Within those pavilions, immortals resided, their faint orange glow flickering like fireflies…
“Holy Maiden, you summoned me here so late at night just to release sky lanterns?”
You Su stood by the rocks. In his otherwise pitch-black vision, a vivid orange glow stood out.
The lantern’s flame was bright, casting a rosy hue on Yu Die’s exquisite face, making her look like a goddess emerging from the firelight.
“What’s wrong? Is that not allowed?” Yu Die teased playfully.
You Su remained silent. Perhaps due to the oppressive atmosphere of this confined space, the Holy Maiden was far livelier and more mischievous than he had anticipated—borderline unruly.
You Su rarely refused the Holy Maiden’s requests. He always felt that this blossoming young woman wouldn’t live much longer. Her beauty held a magical allure, making it unbearable to watch her wither away with regrets.
“I read in books that mortals have a tradition of releasing sky lanterns. During festivals, people in towns big and small release lanterns simultaneously, writing their wishes and prayers on them. They believe the lanterns carry their hopes to the heavens, where the Heavenly Dao grants their blessings. Young Master You, have you ever released a sky lantern?”
“I am a cultivator. I don’t believe in such things.”
“What does being a cultivator have to do with it?” Yu Die’s tone toward You Su had grown less formal over time. She sneered disdainfully, “Isn’t it precisely because we are cultivators that we should revere the Heavenly Dao?”
“The Holy Maiden is right.” You Su saw no point in arguing.
“This sky lantern is one I made myself based on what I read in books. I don’t even know if it will fly.”
Since lighting the candle, Yu Die had been intentionally holding the lantern down, afraid to learn the answer too quickly.
“If this one doesn’t fly, we’ll make another. Eventually, one will fly.” You Su reassured her.
Yu Die glanced at him, a trace of melancholy in her eyes. “But for this lantern, it only gets one chance to take flight, doesn’t it? The ones that fly afterward, though they may also be called sky lanterns, won’t be this one.”
You Su heard her words but said nothing.
This young woman was innocent yet often spoke with surprising maturity. Between her lines, one couldn’t help but feel she was hinting at her own fate—like the White Dragon Carp unable to leave Jade Ring Lake or the wishing lantern unable to ascend to the sky.
“Young Master You, I’m going to release the sky lantern from the cliff ahead. Thank you. Without your company, I wouldn’t have been allowed to come here.”
“The Holy Maiden doesn’t need to release it from such a high place. Even if you released it from Little Pond Palace, it would still fly if it could.”
“Young Master You, don’t ruin the mood, okay?” Yu Die pouted, hands on her hips.
You Su softly hummed in acknowledgment, and Yu Die’s face lit up with a perfect crescent smile.
Barefoot, she tiptoed step by step toward the cliff’s edge. Her legs were straight and long, like two exquisite jade chopsticks.
The wind howled, carrying the sound of leaves rustling in the forest below.
Below the cliff, the carved pavilions and Jade Ring Lake lay asleep in the tranquil night.
With You Su standing behind her, she boldly stepped right to the edge of the cliff.
Pebbles rolled beneath her feet, clattering faintly against the rock face. Yu Die’s face flushed crimson—not from shyness but from the excitement bubbling within her.
She rarely had the chance to stand in such a perilous spot. Looking down at the tiny world below, she felt an inexplicable urge to soar.
Holding the sky lantern wider than herself with both hands, she laughed toward the sky:
“Young Master You, in my world, either you bloom or you wither. So, this lantern will either shatter upon the ground or ascend to the celestial palace. Now do you understand why I want to release it here?”
“It will ascend.”
“I believe so too.”
Yu Die’s laughter was unrestrained, her hair cascading like a waterfall. She let go of the lantern.
But the next moment, her expression turned pale with shock. The lantern showed no sign of rising. Earlier, when she had pressed it to the ground, she had faintly felt a sense of lift. Yet now, without the support of the ground, the lantern’s weight seemed tethered by fate, causing it to plummet endlessly.
Yu Die couldn’t believe the lantern had failed, just as she didn’t want to admit she could never escape this exquisite birdcage.
Her eyes hardened with resolve. Leaning forward, she reached out, attempting to save the falling lantern!
But she couldn’t save this lantern she had crafted with her own hands, imbued with her boundless aspirations—just as she couldn’t save herself.
The loose pebbles beneath her feet couldn’t support her reckless movements. Her body seemed to hang in midair, teetering on the brink of falling off the cliff!
Facing the ground below, her tears froze mid-air in that instant.
So be it… Let it end…
A wave of overwhelming fatigue washed over her, weighing down her body, which had once been as light as a Qingfeng Leaf, turning it into a stone.
At the last possible moment, a broad, firm hand encircled her slender waist.
Startled, she turned her head to meet You Su’s clear, luminous face even in the darkness:
“Young Master You…”
“Holy Maiden, do you truly wish to die?!”
You Su almost roared the words.
Yu Die didn’t know why, but the hand pressing against her abdomen gave her immense reassurance. She couldn’t tell whether she had reached out to save the lantern or had acted recklessly knowing the youth behind her would surely rescue her.
Her eyes sparkled like stars:
“Now I don’t want to die. Please, Young Master You, save me.”
The hand tightened abruptly. You Su’s brows furrowed deeply, his voice cold and sharp as he gritted out:
“Don’t let this happen again!”
The fierce wind whipped through their robes, blowing their fluttering sashes and hair into waves reminiscent of the surging lake.
Yu Die had already let go of the lantern. They were falling faster than the lantern, yet in her eyes, it truly seemed to soar.
She spread her arms, her pink sleeves billowing like a butterfly unfurling its colorful wings.
“Young Master You! From this height, won’t we die if we fall?!”
Yu Die’s excitement betrayed no concern for her life or death.
“We will all die—but not today!”
With one arm wrapped securely around Yu Die, You Su unsheathed his sword with the other, plunging it into the rock face to slow their descent. Black Pine Sword emitted a piercing resonance, sparks flashing briefly in the air.
You Su wasn’t at the Feather Transformation Realm—he couldn’t fly. But as a Spirit Platform Realm cultivator, he wasn’t entirely helpless, especially since he mastered the Wishful Wind Control Technique.
All along, he had relied on the Wind Step Ladder technique. Now, the Wind Riding Leap technique finally proved its worth.
They continued to fall, yet they weren’t like aimless fluff drifting in the wind. Instead, they descended like leaves cradled by the breeze.
Yu Die had never felt so blissful. If she could, she would gladly remain flying in the sky forever.
…
“Young Master You, I’ve entered.”
Yu Meng gently knocked on the screen.
“Mm.”
You Su lay in the warm pool with his eyes closed, easing the fatigue from escorting the Holy Maiden on her “flight.” Every pore on his body greedily absorbed the nutrients in the pool water.
Perhaps the Holy Maiden had already planned everything when she brought him to the cliff.
She sought revenge by indulging in thrills she had never experienced before, leaving You Su, her companion, to bear the brunt of it.
“Young Master You endured much hardship accompanying our young mistress. Truly commendable,” Yu Meng said with a smile while sprinkling medicinal herbs into the water for him.
“The Holy Maiden considers me a friend. This is only natural.”
Wasn’t it because of the deal?
Yu Meng smiled knowingly:
“Young Master You, this is the lotus seed porridge personally prepared by our young mistress. It’s highly beneficial for the body. She specifically instructed me to ensure you drink it while it’s hot.”
As she spoke, she retrieved a steaming bowl of lotus seed porridge from behind her.
In the white porcelain bowl, the lotus seeds shimmered translucently, glowing softly.